Monday, July 26, 2010

What is Baby S up to?Baby’s energy is surging, thanks to the formation of white fat deposits beneath the skin. (Have those kicks and jabs to the ribs tipped you off yet?) Baby is also settling into sleep and waking cycles, though, as you’ve also probably noticed,they don’t necessarily coincide with your own. Also this month, all five senses are finally functional, and the brain and nervous system are going through major developments.

Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.

I have been feeling more and more movement and I absolutely cherish it. I love to lay down at night and just feel the baby move all around. Sometimes my stomach is distorted and bigger on one side. One night the baby was moving so much he/she was keeping me up. My munchkin must be preparing me for those sleepless nights. The baby is also awake in the morning with me.

I can't wait to meet this little one who is moving inside me.About 11 more weeks or 76 more days.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Whats Baby S up to this week?· Eyebrows and eyelashes are now very noticeable!· Hair on baby’s head is growing longer. Some babies are born with almost none at all, while others appear to be ready for their first haircut!· Eyes are completely formed now. Quite a view from inside!· Your baby's body is getting plump and rounded. Most of that increase is muscle tissue and bone. Fat will be added during the third trimester.· Muscle tone is improving. Preparation for the Olympics feels like it is taking place in your womb!· Lungs are capable of breathing now (but baby would still struggle and require medical attention if born now)· Talk to your baby often, reading stories, singing songs and more. He or she can recognize your voice now and will often calm to it later on!· Your baby weighs in now at 2.2 pounds and is 14.8 inches.

Don’t do this. Don't do that. With all the pregnancy "advice" out there, it's hard to know what to believe, or whom to believe. But remember, every pregnancy is different, so follow your doctor's orders above anything else. Here are some myths that I found that can be helpful.

Myth 1: Eat three healthy meals a dayFalse! You should be eating six or seven small meals (every two to three hours). "Eating frequently and from various food groups will keep your blood sugar in a constant range, which is healthy for you and your baby," says Stuart Fischbein, M.D., coauthor of Fearless Pregnancy. Don't obsess about food and don't diet. What was good for you pre-pregnancy is good for you now. And yes, that includes an ice cream sundae with butterscotch sauce if you so desire.

Myth 2: Decaf onlyFalse! One small cup of coffee a day is perfectly fine. While a recent study at McGill University in Montreal did find that the caffeine in two to three cups of coffee a day increases the risk of miscarriage, it did not consider how the coffee was brewed and the type of coffee used. Dr. Minkin points out that a French blend served black is much stronger than a weak cup of American coffee mixed with milk. It's another controversial subject for sure, but moderate caffeine intake isn't likely to harm you or your baby. The same goes for sodas with a caffeine jolt.Myth 3: Cut out the cheeseFalse! Well, you don't have to cut all the cheeses. Some kinds, like cheddar and Swiss, are innocuous because they have been pasteurized. It's the soft, unpasteurized products like Brie, feta, and goat cheese that might carry food-borne illnesses. If you're lucky, the market you frequent will carry pasteurized versions, just start looking at labels more often. And then you can still enjoy your crackers with cheese.

Myth 4: You're eating for twoFalse! Pregnancy is not a time to pig out. You certainly have a bit more leeway when it comes to a second helping of supper, but on average women need only about 300 extra calories a day.

Myth 5: Say so long to seafoodFalse! Chances are that if the reputable (and tasty) sushi bar you love so much has not made you sick pre-pregnancy, you are not at risk when you are with-child. Yes, there is a greater risk of ingesting bad kinds of bacteria from raw foods (so you might feel more comfortable with a cooked-shrimp roll), but if you had spicy yellow fin before realizing you were pregnant, no harm done. The dangerous mercury levels, you ask? Again, it's all about moderation. Enjoy tuna on rye once a week, not daily. Not all fish are created equal. When perusing a menu, go with seafood with lower mercury levels, like salmon, shrimp, and tilapia. Unfortunately, swordfish and tilefish have the highest levels of mercury and should be skipped.

Myth 6: You'll have to suffer through sicknessFalse! Many OTC meds are safe during pregnancy, but somehow women believe they need to put up with migraines and be a slave to the runs. Not so. You should consult your OB/GYN before you take anything, but many experts give the following drugs the green light: Tylenol for headaches and fever; Tums or Mylanta for heartburn; Imodium for diarrhea; Robitussin for colds; and Sudafed or Benadryl for allergies. Many prescription drugs are also okay to continue with during pregnancy, but again, follow your doctor's orders. Herbal supplements and teas are up in the air. Not much research has been done on their effects on fetuses. The kinds you buy in the grocery store are probably safe, but check with your doctor first. If you need to soothe your nerves and want to take the natural route, meditate or eat a piece of chocolate. We prefer the latter.

Myth 7: They'll know you're not a natural blonde!False! Being pregnant does not have to compromise your appearance (at least not above the belly), but you do need to be smart. Dr. Fischbein says that while there is a theoretical risk associated with coloring your hair (chemicals being absorbed through the scalp), studies have not shown anything conclusive. He recommends avoiding dye for at least the first trimester, when the baby's organs are forming. Relieve worries by opting for a natural vegetable dye over a semipermanent or permanent product, but Dr. Minkin still suggests checking them out with your doctor during the first trimester. Eggplant, anyone?

Myth 8: Exercise is a no-noFalse! Clear everything with your OB to be sure, but many docs say that keeping up with mild exercise is just fine. If your pregnancy is sans complications, low-impact workouts can be a great way to control your weight and prep for baby -- just be sure to avoid contact sports or exercises that involve lying on your back (this position can reduce blood flow to your brain and uterus).

Myth 9: Manicures are outFalse! You don't need to forgo weekly manis just because you want to be a mommy. "You would need massive and long-term exposure to the products before there was a chance of problems," says Dr. Fischbein. You might get a little nauseous from the fumes with your newfound sensitivity to odors, but if that's the case, make your appointments for less crowded times of the day. Still freaked out about what's in the nail polish itself? If you fear exposure to dibutylphthalate, a much-debated ingredient in some polishes, look for brands that don't use the stuff like Urban Decay,L'Oreal Jet Set Nail Enamel, and Revlon Nail Enamel.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Whats Baby S up to?Your not-so-tiny-anymore brilliant baby(about 2 pounds and 14.5 inches long!) is slowly rotating in preparation to “head out.” Obviously, this doesn’t happen overnight, but when you start to feel an unfamiliar pressure on your cervix, you’ll know you’ve got a fully flipped baby locked and loaded for the countdown to their birthday! Even now, at the beginning of the third trimester, their little lungs are already capable of breathing air while the pulmonary vascular system can provide sufficient gas exchange and the central nervous system can generally regulate rhythmic breathing as well as their basal body temperature. For what it’s worth, at this point in a healthy pregnancy a premature child (with intensive care) could easily win on the show: “Survivor: The Early Years.”

Whats new this week?Well I guess no news is good news. Thursday I went for the glucose test. The nurse said if she didn't call me all is good. So no call means I passed!Sunday my mother and I wen to look for baby furniture. We both fell in love with this set. We wanted to get my husbands opinion and he loves it too. Last night we went and ordered it! They said it takes 10 to 12 weeks to come in. I absolutely love it. Its so classic. We did order white. Both boy and girl bedding goes great with it. I cant wait to get the nursery all set up! We are going to paint the nursery a light, calming green.Things are moving along.Here is the furniture we picked.

Friday, July 9, 2010

Whats Baby S up to?Your baby is getting chubby. She weighs about 2 lbs and measures more than 9 inches in length. You're continuing to grow, too, which is a sign that you're both healthy! A pattern similar to life outside the womb is starting to develop. You may notice a distinct wake-sleep cycle, where periods of activity alternate with quiet times on a regular basis. Your baby's senses are coming into full bloom. She can't see yet, but she can hear, taste and feel, and her brainwave patterns are similar to those of a newborn. If your health care provider listens your baby's heartbeat now, he or she may notice a skipped beat, which is a condition known as an arrhythmia. Often this is normal and disappears as the heart matures. If it's still present when you are ready to deliver, a fetal heart rate monitor can detect any signs of distress.

I had my doctor appointment this week and everything is looking good. I had the glucose test. I had to have a light breakfast, drink this wicked sugary drink and then they took my blood an hour later. The drink wasn't that bad. Just very sweet. I wont get those results until Monday. The doctor said everything looked good and I asked about my sciatic pain. He said there isn't much you can do. I told him I cant walk alot but have been swimming alot. He said that was the best thing to do. He said it will get better and then might get worse again.

What exactly is sciatic pain, and how can you alleviate it?Your sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in your body, providing stimulation and movement to the lower half of your body. The sciatic nerve runs under your uterus to your legs. So it’s easy to see why, when your uterus has grown many times its normal size, it can start pressing on and causing discomfort to your sciatic nerve. Some women describe sciatic nerve pain as a sharp, shooting pain down the back of their legs.

Most of the time the greatest relief you can have from this pain is to lie down on your side and take a load off your back and legs. When possible, lie down on the side opposite the pain – so for example, if you have pain shooting down your right leg, you should lie on your left side. However, that kind of relaxation is not always practical for moms whose job involves a lot of sitting or standing, or moms who are already chasing after little ones at home. If you must stand for a long time, try standing with one foot on the ground and the other foot lifted up and resting on a stool or box. And if you need to sit for a long time, use a donut pillow or a foam support to balance out your weight.Other ways to relieve the pain include using warm compresses on your lower back or taking a warm bath. You could also wear a Belly Sling or other support system to help alleviate some of the pressure. And of course, even though it may be tempting to put on your favorite set of heels, you should always wear comfortable shoes, particularly if you are having lower back or leg pain.

Swimming is an outstanding exercise for pregnant women and has been known to help relieve sciatic nerve pain. Some women find that prenatal yoga gives them relief and helps them relax more as well. You may also find that a good massage from a licensed prenatal massage therapist can help soothe you and ease your pain. In cases of severe sciatic pain, your health insurance may pay for a physical therapist, who will help you with special exercises to strengthen your abdominal, lower back, and pelvic floor muscles.

With your doctor’s approval, you may also take acetaminophen to relieve the pain, but you only take the absolute minimum that you need, and you should not rely on it as your sole source of pain relief.

The good news is that sciatic nerve pain in pregnancy is usually temporary. It may run its course before you deliver, or it will almost certainly end after you deliver. If it continues beyond delivery, you should ask your doctor for a referral to a physical therapist who can help you.

I cant believe the second trimester is over and I will in the 3rd trimester soon. I have to say that 2nd trimester flew by and I hope the last one does too. I cant wait to meet my little one.

About Me

I am a 41-year-old female who is a wife, daughter, sister, aunt of 7 nieces and 3 nephews, friend, and finally,my proudest role, mother to my precious son, Luca and my daughter Arianna. Here is my story about finding love, dealing with recurrent pregnancy loss, infertility, and IVF. You are welcome to contact me at arlpd@yahoo.com